Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United are persevering in their attempts secure a deal for Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.

There have been mixed reports as to Van Persie's most likely destination this season, with speculation that he could yet remain with the Gunners overshadowed by renewed suggestions he is bound for Old Trafford.

Juventus are believed to have abandoned hope of agreeing a deal with Arsenal, and Roberto Mancini confirmed Manchester City are no longer holding out hope of taking the player to Eastlands, seemingly paving the way for United to sign the 29-year-old.

"We have made a bid and they've been trying to negotiate with other clubs," Ferguson said after his side's pre-season friendly with Barcelona. "I don't have a gut feeling on it at the moment, I must admit. We're not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal.

"It's difficult to say why they're operating this way. I don't know what their thoughts are because they're not giving anything away."

He added: "I can't give you any more information. We just have to persevere. We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there's no progress at this moment in time."

Ferguson has suffered frustration in the transfer market this summer, and on Wednesday evening it was finally confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain had won the race to sign Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo.

The deal follows the arrivals of stars including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Ferguson has suggested PSG may struggle to meet UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.

"I find it quite amazing that a club can pay €45million for a 19-year-old boy," Ferguson said. "They must have spent about £150 million in the last month. As you know, the only deterrent to that is UEFA."